Outboard motor lock



vAp 7, 1942- A.' MCWALTERS OUTBOARD MOTOR LOCK Filed May 10, 1940 jzven/ ar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,279,006 OUTBOARD MOTOR LOCK Andrew McWalters, Minneapolis, Application May 10, 1940, Serial No. 334,394

6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for locking outboard motors in such a manner that their screw clamps cannot be manipulated by unauthorized persons. While it is particularly adaptable for outboard motors wherein the clamps are provided with a pair of spaced clamping screws, it is, of course, conceivable that the locking means might be utilized in other structures where spaced screws or other rotatable elements are used.

It is an object of my invention to provide means as an independent attachment for the conventional outboard motor which can be quickly and easily applied and removed and which will prevent unauthorized persons from rotating the clamping screws when the motor is mounted on the boat and thus prevent removal of the motor from the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide locking means of this type which has particular utility in connection with that type of outboard clamping screw which has a winged head, means being provided in the path of rotation of said head to prevent loosening of the screw. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means for outboard motor clamps which not only prevents unauthorized removal of a motor from a boat to which it is attached, but which also will prevent the clamping screws from becoming accidentally loosened with possible loss of the motor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will -more fully appear from the fol lowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the stern board of a boat with portions of an outboard motor including the clamp 'for attaching the same to the boat and also including my improved locking means;

Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal section through the lock showing the winged heads of the clamping screws; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing there is shown a portion of an outboard motor including a clamp casting 4 which has a portion extending downwardly behind the stern board 5 of a boat, and on the near side of the clamp a pair of spaced arms carry clamping screws 6 which are adapted to be turned into tight engagement with the stern board 5 to securely connect the clamp to said stern board. Asshown in Fig. 2, the clamping screws 6 have winged heads I of conventional type to make it easier to turn said screws. Since the structure above referred to is entirely conventional and known to those skilled in the art, it is not thought a more detailed discussion of the motor clamp and its screws is needed.

My improved locking unit includes a pair of generally trough-shaped rigid metallic shells U and 9, the latter being slightly smaller than the former and, as best shown in Fig. 2, being adapted to fit within the shell portion 8. Each of the shells is provided with spaced notches cut in one side wall, as indicated at 8a and 9a, and when the two portions are nested together they present a substantially enclosed casing except for openings l0 and II which are in alignment in adjacent ends of the sections 8 and 9. These latter openings will be described below. The notches 8a and 9a are tapered inwardly from the lower and upper edges of shell sections 8 and 9 respectively, and when the two sections are fitted together over the winged heads I of the clamp screws 6 the wedge-shaped notches will closely engage the shanks of screws 6 to prevent undue movement or rattling of the locking unit on the clamp screws.

It is, of course, to be understood that the height and width of the casing provided by the shell sections 8 and 9 is sufiicient to enclose the winged screw heads 1 with said sections placed one within or over the other. However, the height of the casing is such that very little rotational movement of either winged screw head can take place in the casing when the two sections are joined together.-

The right-hand end of the casing shown in Fig. 2 illustrates a method of securing that end of the casing so that the ends of the complementary sections are removably connected. That means includes a pair of nested and inwardly punched detents I! which permit separation of the right-hand ends of the two sections only after the left-hand ends have been freed for separation. The left-hand ends of said shell portions 8 and 9 with their openings l0 and II in align-.- ment provide for the admission of the bow I3 of a suitable lock l4 and when the lock is secured in the manner illustrated inFig. 1 the two troughlike sections 8 and 9 are positively connected and can only. be separated by first unlocking and removing the lock l4. Said lock may conveniently be connected to one of the trough-like casing sections, such as the section 9, by means of a chain l5 secured between a cotter key I 6 in the bottom wall of casing section 9 and a loop I! on the body oi the lock l4.

- In order to prevent rattling oi the lock unit, I place strips it of felt or some other suitable material in the two casing portions as shown. It

will be seen that the felt strips lie closely around the clamp bolts and they cooperate with the tapered cut-outs in the casing portions toprovide a tight flt for the lock assembly, while at the same time permitting quick and easy removal when unlocked. I

It should also be noted that my locking assembly can be secured to the clamping screws when the motor is removed from a boat and the assembly can be used as a handle for conveniently carrying the motor. Some 01' the older motors have no handles and are awkward to carry and even with the newer types of motor which are provided with handles the lock assembly aflords an auxiliary handle for increased convenience in adapted to receive said motor clamp screws at From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a lock for outboard motors which can be connected between the spaced winged heads of the motor clamp screws and which is so constructed that neither screw can be rotated with the locking unit applied since such rotation would involve swinging movement of the locking member, and such movement is prevented by the other clamp screw. The device is of such structure that it canbe applied to the conventional outboard motor clamp which in most cases includes a pair oi. spaced screws and it can be utilized without'in any way altering the original structure of the motorclamp or its screw.

It is of simple structure and can be manufactured at a low cost and yet, at the same time, provides effective means for preventing deliberate or accidental loosening of the motor clamp screw.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A look for outboard motor clamps having a pair of spaced clamping screws with heads comprising, a pair of trough-shaped elements each having a pair of spaced notches in a side thereof,

one of said elements removably nesting in the other with the notches of one element substantially coinciding with those of the other and opposite sides of said screws to encircle the same, and said elements being adapted to receive said heads between them to prevent rotation thereof, and means for releasibly locking said elements together. 7

2. The structure in claim 1 and said notches being tapered inwardlyto provide a wedge-like engagement with said screws.

3. The structure in claim 1 and said means for releasibly locking said elements together comsms, interengaging portions adjacent one end of said elements, the elements having aligned openings therethrough adjacent their opposite ends, and lock means releasibly secured through said openings.

4. A look for outboard motor clamps having a pair of spaced clamping screws with heads thereon comprising, a pair of trough-shaped elements having screw head retaining inner side walls, at least one of which elements has a pair 01' spaced notches in one side thereof to receive the clamp screws with the heads thereon enclosed within the trough-shaped elements, one 015 said elements reieasably nesting in the other, and means for releasably locking said elements together.

5. A lock for outboard motor clamps having, a pair of spaced clamping screws with heads thereon comprising, a pair of easing mbers one 0! which is adapted to be telescopically received over the other, said casing members having screw head retaining side walls, there being aligned notches within said side walls at one side 1 of the lockwithin which said clamping screws are adapted to be received with the heads of the clamping screws lying within the casings, said casing members having inter-engaging portions adjacent one end of the same and said halt casin'gs having alined openings through their opposite end to receive a padlock.

ANDREW McwAL'rERs. 

